​By Lolly Forsythe-Chisolm

This expressive arts project encourages an appreciation for autumn’s beautiful colors, while you notice and foster a feeling of daily grace in your life.

​Benefits

Taking time in the beginning of this busy season to appreciate the rich and varied colors of fall can be a reminder and a metaphor for appreciating the rich and varied “colors of you.” Any time you select an aspect to “look for” in your days (gratitude, grace, beauty, soft prayer) you are creating a new set point in your mind to combat anxiety and stress.

​Ideas for expressive process

Grace tree:Each day for a month notice aspects of your life that inspired “Grace”( beauty in nature, personal strength or kindnesses.) Write these onto your leaves. Also you could ask others in your family or on your work team to do the same.

Honoring “roots” tree:Write names of people who have supported you or events that shaped you. You can write these out on the front of the leaves or write them on the back and then glue them down to create a more personal project.

Intention tree:Write down your plans to show grace to others either on the front of your leaves or on the back of your art tree.

Wishing tree or a prayer tree:Add a leave to the tree whenever you would like to hold a person or event in prayer.

Word tree or verse tree:Write out verse numbers or special words on each leaf.

​Inspiration

About the Artist: Lolly Forsythe-Chisolm

Lolly Forsythe-Chisolm is a Mind/Body Specialist for the Inpatient Integrative Medicine team. Email her at lforsythe@umm.edu with any questions and/or with special ways you are using this activity and how it has influenced your days. She'd also like to hear your ideas and how healing arts have helped you!

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